Solidarity Appeal from the All Pakistan Trade Union Federation (APTUF)

A message has been sent to the International Liaison Committee of Workers and Peoples (ILC), based in Paris, by one of its member organisations, the All Pakistan Trade Union Federation (APTUF), after the atrocious disaster that hit Pakistan on Sunday morning, 9 October.

The message calls for solidarity from the ILC and from labour organisations all over the world, asking them to contribute to the 'APTUF Earthquake Relief Fund' it has set up to help provide victims with medicines, tents, blankets, food, drinking water and clothes.

The figures are stunning: the death toll has reached an estimated 40,000. Thousands of children are still buried in the debris of their schools. About four million people have been affected by the earthquake. Many roads are still blocked.

APTUF held an emergency meeting on 9 October. The federation expressed concern that the government seems to have no policy to deal with the crisis and is failing to provide the earthquake victims with the necessary and prompt assistance.

APTUF has called for international solidarity. Meanwhile, it has resolved to ask all its members and office bearers to donate the equivalent of one day's earnings to the 'APTUF Earthquake Relief Fund'. It has mobilised its members to establish camps in NWFP and Azad Kashmir and affected provinces to help the victims.

Local ILC Coordinator Stefan Cholewka said: "Let us respond without delay to the APTUF call for funds, medicine, food, blankets and tents to be collected for the APTUF Earthquake Relief Fund."

The ILC also suggests to send to the workers and people of Pakistan, via APTUF, messages of solidarity.

Laws in Pakistan make it difficult to quickly open an international bank account for this relief fund, and APTUF has asked the ILC to take charge of fund collecting. Naturally, you can also contact APTUF directly.